HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations The results of the Coal & Allied lands assessment survey have been incorporated into the Xstrata Ravensworth Extension Project Aboriginal heritage assessment report prepared by Umwelt Australia for Xstrata Coal. Coal & Allied are managing the sites recorded on their lands during the survey and it is envisaged that these lands will be acquired by Xstrata Coal in the near future. Riverview Pit HVO South salvage programme (AHIP s90 #1102084): In August 2009, MCH was commissioned by Coal & Allied Operations to supervise and report on cultural salvage mitigation activities associated with mining operations at the HVO South Riverview Pit under AHIP s90 #1102084. The salvage mitigation work was conducted over one day with a field team of six Aboriginal community field officers, a technical advisor (MCH), Coal & Allied data management officer and site supervisor. A total of 24 sites were salvaged resulting in the collection, cataloguing and storage of 66 artefacts. A salvage report was compiled by MCH and submitted to DECCW in October 2009. Carrington Pit, Hunter Valley Operations: In June 2009, Coal & Allied Operations announced its intention to seek environmental approval to extend mining operations at the HVO North Carrington Pit covering an additional area of 142ha. Coal & Allied commissioned the extension assessment work under the modification of the development consent DA 450- 10-2003, clause 8(J)8 (EP&A Act) 2000 and Section 75W 1979 (EP&A Act 1979). In September 2009 MCH was commissioned by Coal & Allied Operations to conduct an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment of the previously un-assessed portion of the proposed Carrington West Extension Area. An area of approximately 120ha was comprehensively surveyed with a series of 100m wide pedestrian transects. The fieldwork was conducted over two days with a field team of six Aboriginal community field officers, a technical advisor (MCH), Coal & Allied data management officer and site supervisor The study identified five isolated artefact sites (HVO-1121 to 1125) and one Potential Archaeological Deposit. Further assessments are planned for early 2010 and the results of the Carrington Extension surveys will be incorporated into the Carrington Extension Project Environmental Assessment Aboriginal heritage assessment report. 3.12.4 Historic Heritage Rio Tinto Coal Australia has adopted a precautionary management principle for all potential historic heritage features until such time as these sites have been properly assessed and appropriate management regimes established. In late 2005, Rio Tinto Coal Australia commissioned Environmental Resources Management Australia (ERM) to report and provide guidance on the nature, condition, potential significance and management of all known historic heritage places located on Rio Tinto Coal Australia owned lands in the Hunter Valley. However, there are no known historic heritage sites listed in either the Rio Tinto Coal Australia Historic Heritage Places register or NSW Heritage Register located within HVO operational areas. Two historic heritage investigations were conducted during 2009. In March 2009 Georadar Research Pty Ltd was commissioned by Coal & Allied Operations to conduct a geophysical investigation involving GPR at the Barellan Farm area located in HVO South. The purpose of the GPR survey was to assess the possible location of an historic cemetery on a hill behind the old homestead site. The work was conducted over one day with a field team consisting of two geo-physicists, two Aboriginal community field officers, a Coal & Allied archaeologist/data management officer and site supervisor. The cemetery study grid was comprised of three 70m and five 40m long transects conducted using a handcart mounted GSSI SIR -3000 GPR unit to collect the geophysical data. The GPR data found no conclusive evidence of human burials, however, two features were identified and have been classified as targets of archaeological potential and may be subject to further archaeological investigation in the future. Stock proof fencing has been installed around a 300m x 150m protection buffer area established around the cemetery area. During late May and early June an historic heritage assessment was conducted in conjunction with a comprehensive Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment survey over approximately 340ha of Coal & Allied owned lands as part of the Xstrata Ravensworth Extension Project heritage assessment managed by Umwelt Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Xstrata Coal. Under a land access agreement between Coal & Allied and AEMR 2009 143
Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations Xstrata Coal, Umwelt’s sampling survey methodology was modified to ensure compliance with Rio Tinto Coal Australia CHMS procedures that require 100 per cent survey coverage for areas surveyed on Coal & Allied owned lands. The Umwelt survey over the Coal & Allied lands was conducted over 10 days and involved a field team of six Aboriginal community field officers, two archaeologists (Umwelt), a Coal & Allied data management officer and a site supervisor. An Umwelt historic heritage assessor also inspected sites in the area following the completion of the Aboriginal heritage survey. Two historic features were recorded on Coal & Allied lands being a sandstone block quarry and concrete footings of unknown origin. The results of the Coal & Allied lands historic assessment survey have been incorporated into the Xstrata Ravensworth Extension Project heritage assessment report prepared by Umwelt Australia for Xstrata Coal. Coal & Allied are managing the sites recorded on their lands during the survey and it is envisaged that these lands will be acquired by Xstrata Coal in the near future. 3.13 NATURAL HERITAGE There are no areas of significant natural heritage found at HVO. 3.14 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION 3.14.1 Environmental Management HVO has a Spontaneous Combustion Management Plan and Coal & Allied’s EMS Environmental Procedure 8.3 Spontaneous Combustion, which outlines techniques employed to control, monitor and prevent spontaneous combustion. It also details the physical characteristics pertaining to spontaneous combustion, methods used in the prevention and outlines research being undertaken to study spontaneous combustion. The objectives of the Management Plan and Environmental Procedure are to: Ensure that spontaneous combustion outbreaks are minimised; Endeavour to identify potential areas that may be prone to spontaneous combustion before an outbreak occurs; Ensure that all carbonaceous material is placed in such a manner that reduces the possible occurrence of spontaneous combustion; Where longer term spontaneous combustion problems occur, instigate a management plan to deal with these; and Ensure final rehabilitation is free from spontaneous combustion. 3.14.2 Environmental Performance Monitoring through visual inspection of work areas and at risk coal stockpiles susceptible to spontaneous combustion is conducted in accordance with the site workplace inspection protocol. The initial inspection at stockpile areas involves a walk around the stockpile checking for heat haze, smoke emissions and odour. The use of thermal imagery or the insertion of a thermocouple into the stockpiles to measure temperature may be carried out if a heated stockpile is detected by the visual assessment. A small area located in the Newdell rail loop area showed signs of spontaneous combustion during 2007. An expert consultant inspected the site in February 2007. A report was submitted to the DPI-MR (now DII) in September 2007 which included the recommended actions from the inspection. These remedial actions were completed in 2007. Regular monitoring is occurring in the area. AEMR 2009 144
Page 1 and 2:
Annual Environmental Management Rep
Page 4 and 5:
Coal & Allied - Hunter Valley Opera
Page 6 and 7:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113: Coal & Allied - Hunter Valley Opera
show all

HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?